emt301

No offense taken. You're 100% correct, better communication all around would be a big help.

Ah yes, once again something that we can blame the dispatch center for. Just in case you're not aware - many times dispatch isn't notified in a timely manner either. If we don't know about it, we can't pass along the information.

Good luck with that.

Countywide PD, Fire, EMS is the way to go. This is how things are done in Montgomery County, MD (where I grew up) - and while the system's certainly not perfect, it does work quite well.

You're right, just look at the Port Authority - officers double as Airport Rescue FireFighters (ARFF). However, many other airports have dedicated firefighting staff (no other responsibilities). To clarify about Westchester - the fire fighting (ARFF) staff there are Airport Operations Coordinators & Supervisors, who handle all airport safety duties (other than law enforcement/ems). These employees handle aircraft rescue/firefighting (ARFF) and receive advanced training in such at special F.A.A. ARFF schools held by the Salt Lake City FD and the Pittsburgh FD. They also handle hazmat response, general security functions, airfield/airport safety inspections, snow removal, weather observations, oversight of fueling operations, and escorts of workers/visitors on the airfield. The Airport Operations Coordinators are members of I.A.F.F. local I-62. Primary structural firefighting coverage is provided by mutual aid fire departments from the surrounding communities - though if notified by the airport tenant where the alarm/fire is occuring, the ARFF team will make an initial response until mutual aid arrives. Thereafter, the ARFF equipment usually returns to service in order to be ready for any aircraft emergencies thay might develop. Non-safety functions at Westchester such as ticket sales, baggage, janitorial services, etc. are handled by other non-ARFF personnel.

Dutchess County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) operates a couple of marine units on the Hudson River during the recreational boating season.

Good Luck JC !!!!

Really? Didn't realize that CITY FIRE transported patients to the hospital via ambulance. (As you already know) City 911 dispatches Alamo for calls in the city, and City Fire provides first response, backing up whatever ambulance responds to the call (whether it be Alamo....or another provider such as NDP, Fairview, Arlington, MLS, etc. if Alamo is out of units)

Wow, so those 14 hour night shifts I work aren't good for me? Never would have imagined that.

The names say it all...Choke-Rod, Stray-Rod, K-Rod, Pay-Rod...all sorts of hype and money - only to self-destruct every playoff season...see ya later A-rod, don't let the door hit you in the a%$. Let some other team waste their money on him.

"A spokesman for Customs and Border Protection said the delay was only eight minutes" I guess this "spokesman" has absolutely no knowledge of firefighting operations - if a critical situation had developed on the fireground, those 8 minutes could have been the difference between life & death for a firefighter. Looks like these Customs and Border Protection guys need to be educated, and adjustments certainly need to be made in their procedures.

I'm not familiar with the specific incident which apparently initiated this topic. I am, however, aware of a couple of departments in the county that tend to use "questionable" mutual aid practices. It's quite frustrating as a dispatcher when you know who should be sent under mutual aid & are trying to do the job to the best of your ability, only to have your hands tied by fire department politics.

Actually, I don't think there should be a problem with him posting something like this. Open discussion is how problems are addressed and then hopefully resolved. Part of the reason that the issue raised even exists is that it's known only to members of the fire service - it's our "dirty little secret". If the media, and more importantly the taxpayers, knew of the games that get played with regards to appropriate mutual aid, many people would likely be outraged. I understand what you mean by someone not wanting to get themselves jammed up, but it's also admirable when someone is willing to speak their mind when a problem needs solving.

If that's what they're really attempting to do, then the NYS law creating an upper age limit should be changed, raising the top age to around 40 (from 35). If you're 40 and can physically do the job, you shouldn't be eliminated purely because of your age. There are plenty of 35-40 year olds out there who would love to become troopers, but can't because of the age issue. In my opinion, age=life experience, which can be invaluable in developing a good sense of judgement, as well as dealing with the public. Just have to be physically fit enough to do the job.

The point that I believe many of us are making is that too many people anymore are incapable of "using their heads". Obviously, in a situation such as a hospital, stadium, etc....special circumstances exist, and therefore special procedures should be in place for a fire alarm. In general, however, the reaction that people in Conan's audience displayed is becoming more & more common when fire alarms sound. Alarms get silenced & reset prior to FD arrival, and people don't evacuate. Geeze, sometimes people won't even leave when there's a confirmed smoke condition. I went to a call one time at a strip mall where we actually had smoke in the building, and one clown initially refused to leave because his deli sandwich was still being prepared, and he was in a hurry !!!!

The National Weather Service is forecasting a risk for severe thunderstorms this afternoon into tonight. Per the NWS, "The primary threat is expected to be damaging winds...but isolated tornadoes may also be possible." There could also be localized street/small stream flooding due to the expected 1 to 2 inches of rain that should fall. Fun, fun.

More information on this is available at the following link: http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/hersheys.asp

Really pathetic. Amazing that people are so self-absorbed that they're incapable of reacting properly to something as simple as a fire alarm - that pertains not only to Conan, but to his audience as well. Conan cracked jokes and the audience laughed/stayed in their seats when the alarm went off...but you can bet the same audience members would now be talking to their lawyers if somebody had actually gotten hurt due to an actual fire in the NBC studio. Amazing how incapable people are of taking care of themselves in the simplest things, if nobody's there to lead them by the hand.

Without going into details, it comes down to town vs. county politics. EFPD units should have "Dial 911" on them, just as the EFFD units do, and just as do most emergency units across the country that participate in an E-911 system. Out of respect for the EFPD sergeants & officers who do an EXCELLENT JOB patrolling my town each & every day, I'll leave it at that...

Sorry ALS....but....GO BILLS !!!!

Member too !!

Wow - I'm really surprised to hear that the Airport employees were rude. When I worked there a few years ago, there were times that the airline and security personnel weren't all that friendly, but the Airport Operations staff were a great bunch of guys (and I know some of them that are still there, and who continue to be great guys !!!)

Repeats to be shown Tuesday June 19th 1600 hrs (this afternoon), Sunday June 24th 1600 hrs, Sunday June 24th 0300 hrs. Enjoy....

Exactly right....the responsibility is 100% WITH THE HOSPITAL. I've seen/been involved in situations where EMS has been dispatched to assist injured/ill persons in the parking lot or on the grounds outside of a hospital building...apparently the hospital/ER staff either didn't know there was a patient outside or wouldn't come outside due to some liability issues...don't recall what the exact reasons were in each case, but EMS was dispatched. There's no excuse, however, for a person ALREADY in the ER to need 911 assistance in order to obtain medical help...once inside the ER, the hospital has a moral, ethical (and correct me if I'm wrong legal) obligation to render the appropriate care. The dispatchers in LA not sending an ambulance to an ER (where patients are to have access to higher level care than that given by an ambulance crew) should not be the issue here, despite what the media is saying. The issue here is entirely the gross incompetence, negligence, and lack of compassion shown by the hospital.

I guess we'll see...after all, dispatching often seems to be considered the "bastard child" of the emergency services...dispatchers usually don't get the same pay or benefits as their fire/pd brothers & sisters in the field, despite the high stress level often encountered on the job. Apparently former Governor Pataki (who always liked a good photo opportunity with emergency responders in the field) wouldn't sign the dispatcher retirement bill last time...hopefully the new governor isn't as much of a hypocrite & does the right thing if the legislature passes the bill.